Changing lifestyle, stress causing infertility: Survey

Changing lifestyle, stress and delayed marriages are leading to a rise in the incidence of infertility in India, a survey has found. The survey 'Helping Families' was conducted among 2,562 participants and 100 infertility experts from nine cities.

It said as many as 46 per cent of young couples in the 31-40 year-age group surveyed were found to be infertile. The survey was supported by Merck Serono, the bio-pharmaceutical division of global drug giant Merck KGaA.

The findings were endorsed by Indian Society for Assisted Reproduction and Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction (ASPIRE), Merck Serono said in a release here today.

Of the surveyed group, 49% have undergone IVF (In-vitro fertilisation) treatment and the rest of them were considering opting for infertility treatment, it said. When infertility experts were consulted, they shared that 63% of couples seeking infertility treatment are in the age group of 31-40, it said. "With changing lifestyle, stress and delayed marriages, the incidences of infertility are also on the rise with many other health disorders," said Lawrence Ganti, General Manager and Country Head, Merck Serono India.

"There is a general lack of awareness among the public regarding infertility as it is a taboo subject. In the quest for conception, many couples opt for alternative therapies and religious rituals thus frittering away crucial age and time," Dr Jaideep Malhotra was quoted as saying in the survey.